Tools and Resources for Building Healthier Spaces
Looking to learn more about healthy spaces?
Here is a list of largely free resources that can serve as a crash course and provide you with the knowledge and tools to apply in your daily work:
An Introduction to the Health Challenges and Opportunities Linked to Climate Change by UN Climate Change Learning Partnership: Explores the intricate relationship between climate change and human well-being. This comprehensive course provides valuable insights into the health risks posed by climate change while highlighting potential. https://unccelearn.org/course/view.php?id=20&page=overview
Comfort and Health in Buildings: A 6-week course by TU Delft on EdX delves into the world of thermal comfort and its impact on building occupants. Gain insights on creating comfortable indoor environments for enhanced well-being. https://www.edx.org/course/thermal-comfort-in-buildings
"Inhabit" Podcast by Perkins & Will: Delve into the challenges faced on the ground and gain an honest perspective on the power of design in enhancing the human experience. Hosted by Eunice Wong and Dr. Erika Eitland, this podcast explores the intersection of design, policy, and research, promoting healthier, equitable, and sustainable environments. https://inhabit.perkinswill.com/
“WELL Building Standard" by the International WELL Building Institute: As a co-author of this standard (I contributed to the Light Concept), I may be a little biased, but after extensive research, I found it to be the most comprehensive collection of strategies available for free. It covers research and strategies for aspects such as air and water quality, lighting, sound, ergonomics, mental health, and nutrition. https://v2.wellcertified.com/en/wellv2/overview .
Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity by Joseph G. Allen and John D. Macomber: This book provides research-based insights into the correlation between healthy indoor environments and productivity. It’s available for free in most public libraries, otherwise, it's well worth the $20.
Biophilic Design from the US General Services Administration's Sustainable Facilities Tool: This resource offers a wealth of valuable information about the impact of biophilic design and provides practical guidance on how to incorporate biophilic elements into building projects. It's a valuable reference for those interested in enhancing the connection between nature and the built environment. https://sftool.gov/learn/about/580/biophilic-design .
This comprehensive list should provide you with a solid introduction to healthy building practices, emphasizing the crucial interplay between human health, sustainability, and building design.
This page will be updated regularly so check back frequently.